PennDOT preserves roads, artifacts

October 27, 2008|By TIFFANY WRIGHT, Daily American Staff Writer

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is mostly known for building and maintaining state roads, but they also have an entire department dedicated to discovering and preserving artifacts found before road projects even begin.

“When people think of PennDOT they usually associate it with building and maintaining roads and bridges,” said PennDOT spokeswoman Alison Wenger. “Our archaeological department is lesser known.”

The department is currently involved in seven excavations around the state, however, none are in Somerset County.

PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler said archaeology is important at the department so history can remain preserved.

“Every time we design a project that disturbs previously untouched land, we investigate to determine any impact the project may have on historical or archaeological sites,” Biehler said in a press release.

Tom Yocum, environmental manager for District 9, which includes Somerset County, said there are various levels of studies complete before every PennDOT project.

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Anytime a state agency or even a homeowner starts a new project an archaeology study should be performed, said Pam Kane, PennDOT safety press officer.

“You need to test the area to be certain no historic or prehistoric landmarks are going to be covered,” she said.

If a historical site is discovered, the department tries to avoid the area of construction. If construction cannot be avoided, however, an excavation would be conducted.

“For the department, it’s a less costly option to leave the area undisturbed rather than going through an investigation,” Wenger said. “A full excavation can be costly.”

The department conducts about 50 archaeological investigations each year, but only about half have historic findings, Wenger said. Artifacts are taken to the State Museum in Harrisburg.

“Some of the finds we’ve found are pretty interesting things over the years. It’s not always a huge find, but every artifact is a little piece of history,” she said.

An archaeological project in Bedford County along state Route 56 will soon begin.

Yocum said the last findings in Somerset County would have been during the construction of state Route 219 through Meyersdale.

“In Meyersdale there was a large study done several years ago,” he said. “I believe the materials they found were of remains of a village from years ago.”

Kane said that people should be aware that PennDOT is not just responsible for constructing roadways.

“People think of us as builders, but not preservers,” she said. “But we’ve won two awards in two different years for our preservation work in Huntingdon County and at the Bedford Springs Hotel.”

PennDOT invests between $5 million and $15 million annually in preserving artifacts.

The department participated in “Archaeology Day” in Harrisburg Oct. 21. Artifacts from the department’s prior investigations were on display.